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'Showjumping' at Rabbit Grand National!
Photo: Action Press/Rex Features
Breeders travel in from Sweden to compete

In defiance of the usual practice of using horses for showjumping, this year's Burgess Premier Small Animal Show has included a Rabbit Grand National complete with showjumping. Entrants had to jump barriers in the recognised manner, albeit smaller ones than are usually used in horse-based events. Some breeders travelled in from as far away as Sweden to compete.

Originally popularised after a brief appearance on the defunct television show That's Life!, rabbit showjumping has become a competition sport in the UK, US, Japan, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. In Scandinavian countries, the sport is known as 'Kaninhoppning'. The inaugural European Kanin Hop Championships were held in Sweden in October 2011.

Like any sport, Rabbit showjumping requires a combination of agility and training. Rabbit showjumping experts discourage the training of particularly large rabbits due to the potentially harmful concentration of weight on the front paws during landing. It is also recommended that smaller breeds of rabbit, due to their inability to jump particularly high, are not used. However, smaller rabbits have been known to overcome these obstacles through a combination of sheer will and jumping style, and smaller rabbits have made it to the highest Scandinavian classes. Lop-eared rabbits are forbidden from competing due to the risk of injury.

The world record for a high jump in rabbits stands at 995 millimeters (39.17 inches), and is held by Tösen and Tine Hygom of Denmark. The world record for a long jump stands at 3000 millimetres (118.11 inches) by Yaboo and Maria Jensen, also of Denmark.

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.